NYLCV Endorsements

Photo: Darleen Stry

DISTRICT: 55

REGION: Central New York

GOVERNMENT BODY: New York State Senate

YEAR: 2018

CONTACT:

Rich Funke

State Senate

In 2014, Rich Funke was elected to represent District 55 in the State Senate. As a member of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Consumer Protection, and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks & Recreation, he has been dedicated to the healthy maintenance and safeguarding of our communities and environmental resources statewide.

Particularly concerned with communal health, he has been a proponent of drug take back programs, stronger drinking water standards and the disclosure of high-concern chemicals in children’s products. Funke is additionally a champion of promoting recreation in the outdoors. This past legislative session, he sponsored S7260, which directs the commissioner of parks to establish the state parks passport program and S4084-A which requires the collection of discarded recyclable materials at parks and historic sites. He has also advocated for healthy sustainable food options at concessions in state parks. Further prioritizing food instability, Funke voted in favor of assistance for young farmers, guidance for the donation of extra edible food from schools, and lead the way to pass a farm to food bank tax credit in 2017. He sees the reduction of food waste as a paramount concern and will continue to collaborate with organizations and fellow policymakers to encourage access to safe, locally grown produce.

Moving forward, Funke will remain committed to preserving farmland, encouraging community resiliency implementation and securing full funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and their initiatives.

Help Rich Get Elected

Endorsements

NYLCV is the only statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy and open space through political action. We're non-partisan, pragmatic and effective.